terça-feira, 16 de janeiro de 2018

9 ways to live Pride and Prejudiciously - chapter 5 _ PART II

hi, there.The funny thing about JAFF is that we can play taking the characters a bit too far here and there, maybe a little off center if the story lines asks for it. In this one, Darcy is so cryptic, right?But don't lose your faith in him! Or me...Have you?Oh, dear...Let's read the last part, shall we?

From the rainy night on,
Lizzy decided to ignore Darcy and his abuse. Whatever he thought or said didn’t
exist to her, the prize would go to whomever the audience chose, so the best
she could do was enjoy the ride. In fact, it was all she could do.

He seemed even more
upset with her spontaneity; at times, the man was a caged beast pacing inside a
cell. Even though he pretended to be as strongly opinionated as ever, he was
different after the altercation in the deck. No one knew why or how much, but
the huge handsome man did keep more to himself until the big final arrived and
there were only three left: Darcy, Lizzy and Fred.

'In the Island' is a reality TV show of 16 beautiful
young people isolated in a paradise like island in the Caribbean with the task
of renovating a small hotel and caring for its animals. The opening said showing ‘before and after’ images of
the renovated rooms. Only 3 left, it’s up
to you at home to vote on the big winner of the 3 million dollars prize!

Since Anne left the day before yesterday, Lizzy and
Darcy have declared truce. The disembodied
voice said showing how the three remaining competitors paced the living room
waiting to be called to the big deck for the live show. She has cooked for the two men, baked a cake and they even had a meal
together!

‘What an improvement,
huh?’ The host appeared on screen. ‘The Neanderthal guy helped the cute girl
pack her stuff, carried her trunk, was a real gentleman the whole day. I could
swear he was trying to say something to her, but my director disagrees. Can we
show the folks at home, boss?’ He pretended to surprise the production team.
‘Oh, come on… Just that bit- Right! Watch this, folks!’

A cute video clip of
Darcy and Lizzy started showing how he watched her when she was distracted, was
almost always close to her and at times smiled while she laughed. As Ed Sheeran sang Shape of you, the couple played a swift cat-and-mouse game of shy
smiles and doubtful looks. It was all designed to let the audience think that
if they had a few days more, they’d end up together.

‘Keep voting at home,
the decision is in your hands!’ The host urged the audience. ‘Don’t forget!’

No one forgot that, but
people were also busy tweeting and commenting how he manipulated the girl as
the competition neared the end.

#DarcyKnowsBest and #LizzyIsTheBoss
alternated as the top trend hashtag, along with #EnoughHarassment. Sponsors
loved the response, they all made big bucks that season: the network loved
Darcy and Lizzy’s energy more than anyone did. Fred Wentworth was just dead
weight in the final.

‘Hello, guys? Lizzy,
Fred, William?’ The host called out and in the renovated living room the
finalists looked up at the speakers as if the man was in the ceiling too.
‘Time’s up! We’re waiting for you here in the deck! Come see who wants to greet
you…’

Lizzy skipped a step,
she was so nervous that when Darcy tried to hold her wrist to say something,
she shook him off. The last few days he decided to be a nice guy didn’t erase
the three months being a jerk and she was so close to go home…

It all passed in a blur.

In a moment they arrived
at the highly illuminated deck, Lizzy was engulfed in her parent’s hug,
blinding lights prevented her of seeing the entire cast but her mother’s
whisper arrived clear is Lizzy’s ear: ‘Internet polls say Darcy will win.’

She could have wasted
time dwelling on how the jerk could win over Fred who was an adorable guy or
her who had been a victim most of the time, but the show was fast tracked and
she was mesmerized by the recaps on the big screen.

And a moment later – in
fact it was more than an hour into the live transmission – the host called the
three finalists to the center of the stage to read his rehearsed speech from
the teleprompter.

Blah-blah-blah about
endurance and strength and strategic playing and… ‘The winner of this season is
a most deserving person, someone who can speak most decidedly what comes to
mind without fear of defending the ideas that sometimes are quite… edgy.’ He
paused for drama. ‘So, the winner of The island is… Lizzy Bennett!’

Her heart stopped, she
felt air escape her lungs.

‘Who?’ Lizzy frowned.
‘Me?’ She looked at the three men on stage.

‘Of course you.’ She saw
Darcy’s lips move. ‘That’s the whole point.’

‘What?’ She shouted.

Then came arms around
her, she was tackled, carried in the air, confetti, music, champagne.

Only four hours later he
saw her again. Not where he’d like to meet the enticing girl, it was in the
very dark and loud club the whole cast and crew gathered to celebrate the end
of the season.

Darcy was still a bit
dizzy with all the attention he got once the airing ended; his sister showed
him the social media accounts and introduced the public relations team. Turned
out the big prize was irrelevant to him, there were already too many
merchandising and VIP presence contracts waiting for his approval that’d give
him twice the amount the show gave Lizzy.

He’d see to that in the
following days, first he needed to talk to her without cameras following them
all the time. He craved that, there was too much to be said and heard - as he
saw it.

‘Hi.’

‘Huh?’ She frowned in
the middle of the dance floor.

‘I’d like to talk to
you.’ He smiled.

‘No, thanks.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘Haven’t you assaulted
me enough?’

Darcy frowned, shook his
head tilting it down to try to hear her. ‘What?’

‘I said, leave me
alone!’ She snorted. ‘Jerk!’

‘I need to talk to you,
have to explain why I chose that way to give you the prize.’ He pressed a smile
in answer to the funny face she pulled. ‘Please.’ He held her arm and pointed
at the balcony.

Lizzy shook her arm free
but walked in the general direction he pointed. ‘Speak.’ She barked when they
arrived where she could hear her own voice. Over his shoulder, she could see
other people interested in their conversation.

‘Congratulations!’ He
gave her a charming smile.

She nodded.

‘I knew you would win.’

‘Really?’

‘You were the best
competitor; I saw it from the beginning.’

‘I’m a big catch, big
fish, whatever.’

Darcy raised his brows.
‘You heard me?’ She shrugged. ‘I meant it as a compliment.’

‘I don’t think so. You
said it with contempt as you treated me these last three and a half months. I
endured your harassment and assault with politeness but I’m not obliged to do
it anymore. I may as well send you to hell right now.’

‘Calm down, babe.’

‘Don’t babe me!’ She raised her voice.

He raised his hands. ‘Sorry.
I apologize if I went over the line at times, it was necessary to make sure
people saw your value. You’re such a great girl, so beautiful and funny. I
couldn’t just date you, the rakes of the cast had noticed your charms too, a
simple male pissing game would make you cheap. The best way to defend and put
you on good term with the audience at the same time was to act as if I wasn’t
at all moved.’

She blinked and blinked
and blinked for a few moments. ‘But you were?’ An adorable frown. ‘Moved by
me?’

‘I’m in love with you,
babe.’ He smiled. ‘Of course you noticed. Half the internet is talking about
it.’

‘No, we don’t!’ She
again shook her arm but this time he didn’t let go. ‘This is bullshit! You hate
me, even called me a whore!’

‘I most certainly
didn’t.’

‘Just did now!’

‘Quite the opposite.’

‘I heard you when you
said I had better means to loot easy money.’

‘By dating me, I have
money.’

‘Damn you.’ She pushed
him. ‘Let me go!’

‘Now we don’t have any
more cameras following us, babe. We can be together, can say how much we want
each other.’ He smiled lovingly and tried to hug her.

Lizzy pushed his chest with
more force. ‘Don’t dare touching me.’

He stopped.

‘I hate you, you’re a
jerk. If you have money, you had nothing to do in a reality show with people
who did need and want that money. These last months you made my life a living
hell, I want you to disappear.’ There was fierceness in her voice. ‘I’m not
kidding, don’t misunderstand me. You are the last man on Earth I’d date. I
never ever will go out with you.’

As she left him alone in
the balcony, Darcy sadly realized there were cameras on them, cell phones from people attending the party.

‘What can you be doing?’
Georgiana gushed entering the hotel suite living room at eight in morning.
‘It’s so early, I thought you’d still be in bed after sleeping with so many
roommates for so long!’

Her brother groaned.
‘I’ll go soon, are you leaving?’ Darcy said without raising his eyes from the
laptop.

‘Gym.’

‘Hang a ‘do not disturb’
sign, will you?’ He asked. ‘And when you return, make sure the envelope I’ll
leave at the table reach Lizzy.’

‘Lizzy the winner?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why?’

‘I need to explain a few
things to her.’

‘In paper, like a
letter?’ Georgiana asked horrified. ‘Why don’t you send it to her by e-mail,
instant message, private mail or something?’

That caught his
attention. ‘How do I find out her contacts?’

‘Social media?’ The
sister rolled her eyes.

‘She won’t accept my
friendship request.’

‘She doesn’t need to,
only needs to accept the messages exchange.’

He groaned thinking it
was the same. ‘Right. Go work out, Georgiana.’

When she did leave, he
considered that sending it to her online was a little more secure than sending
a letter that could easily end up in the wrong hands.

All he had to do was
try.

It took Lizzy two months
to notice Darcy’s request to private messaging because she now was famous, had
thousands of followers, appeared in many TV shows and parties.

Once she did notice his
name and the date his request was sent, she needed two more weeks to gather
interest to read whatever it was he wanted to say.

After reading it, she
was floored. So astonished, she didn’t know what to do and decided to not do
anything. ‘Let time tell.’ The new millionaire whispered to herself, heart
pounding.

‘Hey, hey, hey!’ The TV
show gushed hopping in front of the camera. ‘Good night and welcomed to Late
night at home with the stars.’ She paused to hear the audience applaud.
‘Tonight we’ll have many guests including the last ‘In the Island’ winner,
Lizzy Bennett!’ More applauds, some cheering. ‘She is a dear, that’s for sure.
She is about to start a career as special reporter for a famous show searching
interesting facts in university life!’ Applauds and cheers again. ‘And we’ll
have big surprises for her tonight!...’ She fake whispered to the camera in a
conniving smile. ‘Please welcome Lizzy, folks!’

Lizzy entered from the
side doors looking very cute in ripped jeans and a white off shoulder ruffle crop top that looked very chic with her high heels and big smile. ‘Hi! Thanks for having me!’

‘It’s our pleasure,
honey!’ The girl gushed. ‘This show loves you, don’t we?’ The host asked and
the audience went wild. ‘For six months we’ve been trying to lure you in, but
you never find time for us…’ A pout.

‘Tell me how are you
spending all that cash!’ The host pointed the big sofa and the two girls sat on
their legs talking as if there wasn’t a big audience or cameras and crew in
front of them.

‘Didn’t have a chance to
start yet.’

The audience made a sad
sound.

‘I’ve been so busy… But
I decided that at least half of the money will go to a fund to help people
through school. I can offer low loan rates, scholarships and such. It’s not
much, I know, but I want to do it.’

‘I think it’s great.’

‘Thanks.’

‘And have you been in
touch with the other contestants?’

Lizzy pulled a face,
shook her head, mind in a quick trip to a certain jerk and back. ‘Not really.
But I do bump into the girls at parties. I’d like to meet a few of them more
often, though.’

‘Who for example?’ The
host insisted bringing a mug to her lips. The show was supposed to fake a small
apartment where she hosted friends to chat, so she was at home.

In a slow shoulder lift,
Lizzy tried to avoid answering. ‘I spent a lot of time with them and suddenly,
boom! Hardly see their faces.’ But the other girl kept a sassy look pressing
for a straighter answer. ‘Some people I left edges to trim.’

‘Ah!...’ A grin. ‘I do
have something for you to see…’

‘Really?’ Lizzy felt a
weird twist in her stomach. That show had big audience; the PR people pointed
by the network to help her seemed to be deliberately delaying her participation
for some reason. She was probably about to find out why.

‘We have exclusive
images of the last ‘In the island’ season, something only the lucky people who
had pay-per-view and were very smart noticed…’ The host grinned.

‘Should I be afraid?’

Laughter.

‘Guess not.’ The host
giggled. ‘I think you’ll love to see this… Twitter has been discussing these
images as an urban legend for the
last six months and now we´ll make it clear.’

‘Oh, dear…’ Lizzy
groaned.

‘Now!’

The studio went dark, a
big screen appeared at the back of the living room and Lizzy’s face appeared.
It was the first day of ‘In the island’, she was happy and a bit keyed up;
shortly after she was making friends with everybody except Darcy. From then on,
the video clip was centered on them. The fights, the attacks and… A plethora of
things Lizzy had absolutely no idea he did for her: cleaning the shells from
the shore before she took her runs, preparing the tools she’d need to
accomplish her share of the renovation work, collecting clothes she forgot
drying out, picking her favorite fruits from the orchard.

When the lights dimmed
back, she had shining eyes.

His words from the
private message swam in her head: I’m in
love with you, it was an act, I wanted the audience to notice you.

‘Surprised?’ The host
whispered.

‘Astonished.’ Lizzy
whispered back.

‘What would you say to
him? Maybe he is watching, the show is live you know…’

The fact that the
audience was completely silent didn’t seem weird to Lizzy.

‘I’d say a million
things. There’s so much to ask and to adjust and maybe I could ask him out…’

‘I will say yes.’ Came
the rich voice and the audience exploded in cheers.

Lizzy turned, almost
bumped her nose in his chest for he was very close and jumped to hug his
shoulder.

‘I’m sorry.’ He
whispered hugging her back, very strongly. ‘I thought you understood me and
played along so we both could be among the finalists.’

‘I hated you.’

‘I adored you since the
beginning.’

‘Can we talk?’

‘We can be together.’ He
moved his head to reach her lips. ‘If you want.’

‘I do.’

instagram

An inch to touch lips,
he noticed cameras and used his hands to hide her face for enough moments to
share a quick kiss. ‘I hate cameras.’ He breathed, she giggled. ‘Let’s go.’

As the couple tried to
leave the stage, the host held Lizzy’s hand and the girl stood stretched to the
cheering of the audience both in the studio and at home. Internet was wild with
the hashtag #DarcyAndLizzyForever.

‘Wait!’ The host
complained. ‘The interview is not over!’

Picquery

‘Yes, it is.’ Darcy
barked.

‘No, Mr. Darcy.’ The
host stomped and inadvertently knocked the side table. The black mug tumbled
and fell on the floor breaking in several pieces.

---

Bertha opened her eyes
slowly and sighed smiling from ear to ear.

That had been a funny
one.

Reality TV, ha!

Pity she woke up in that
part… She had the sensation of what was in the letter, but wanted to hear the
handsome man explain why he had made her feel so aggravated. And excited – if
she was being honest with herself. His arms felt wonderful, she could easily
get lost in those…

What they could do alone
without cameras, huh?

The next ten minutes
Bertha spent thinking about having a full dose of the magical tea.

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Quem sou eu

I´m a 30+ years old Brazilian architect who has found a soft spot for Pride and Prejudice's Mr Darcy. After years reading lovely stories about him and Lizzy I decided to try my hand writing and loved it. Now I just can´t stop.